(with apologies to Clint Eastwood.)
It’s a noisy world. Some noise, or sound, as in music, is welcome and if melodious, can be soothing. That’s the good noise. The sound of children playing, the sound of my musical adult children singing, the sounds I remember from my childhood farm—they all fall in that category.
Some noise is blatantly bad. Huge trucks without mufflers, the hum of a faulty fluorescent light, an alarm clock, a vacuum—those are not pleasant, but their intrusion is momentary.
The ugly is a different matter entirely. It is usually loud, monotonous, and shrill, like the incessant sound emanating from a fan in a nearby building, close to where I live.
Ugly sound is usually mechanical and man-made. It can be turned on and turned off. It should be easy to control. Whether it’s turned off or allowed to persist is a matter of goodwill toward neighbors. And sometimes, it appears, there is none.
Noise sensitivity can be likened to nails on a blackboard. The constant buzz and whir of traffic, the slapping of doors, the ringing of phones and loud conversations can be overwhelming. This sensitivity to noise is known as hyperacusis, a condition that arises from a problem in the way the brain processes noise. If you are subject to this syndrome, your irritation and discomfort can be overwhelming.
Peace in Your Home
One of the places where we need to feel relaxed and peaceful is in our homes. That’s why it is so stressful when that peace is disturbed.
Temporary disturbances like local building works or a nearby event are bad enough. When the noise is caused by your neighbour, though, it’s more distressing. With no endpoint, it can leave you feeling very helpless.
Talk to Your Neighbours
It’s obvious but important. Although it might seem unbelievable that anyone can be unaware of how much noise they’re making, some people are. Even if they are aware of the problem, if you need to act via their landlord, environmental health, or even the police, proof that you’ve tried to handle it yourself is essential.
Please do not speak to them when the noise is in full flood, and you’re stressed and angry. Instead go round at a quiet time and discuss the situation as calmly as possible. Make your neighbours aware of how much noise you can hear. Try to reach an agreement about acceptable noise levels and what time the noise needs to end.
Speak to Their Landlord
If your neighbours rent their home and you’re having no luck getting them to be more considerate, try talking to their landlord. If they are in social housing, then you can contact their housing association.
Otherwise, you can try to find out who their landlord is and speak to them directly. Most landlords don’t want problems with neighbours, especially those that could lead to legal proceedings. As their tenants, your neighbours are more likely to listen to orders from them to keep it down as they don’t want to risk eviction.
Speak to Environmental Health
If all other options fail, find the names of your local council and call them. They have the power to take legal action against people making noise in violation of your city’s bylaws. It won’t be a quick process.
You’ll probably need to keep a diary of the times and dates the noise is excessive, what type of noise it is, how long it lasts, and any steps you’ve taken to resolve the issue.
What can noise sensitive people do?
1. Measure the Noise.
You could start by purchasing a decibel reader that measures the sound. Once you have documented it, you can ask that a noise abatement order is issued and begin to take other actions against your neighbours.
2. Buy Noise Cancelling Headphones or Ear Plugs
If you like to sit quietly and read or work from home, investing in a good pair of noise cancelling headphones will make life easier while finding a permanent solution. Depending on the brand, the headphones can block anywhere from 15-50 dB, which will make a massive difference.
If you get a comfortable pair, you could even wear them when falling asleep. Alternatively, you could wear earplugs to make it quiet enough for you to sleep. You can wear them during the day if needed. You can have a pair of earplugs that are sized accurately for your ears—I have purchased a pair and can attest to their comfort and effectiveness.
Use ambient sound to do something other than focus on the noise:
Try a White Noise Machine
White noise is a sound that includes equal amounts of all the frequencies in the spectrum of sound we can hear. Fans of white noise sometimes liken it to the sound from an untuned television or radio. Because it spans all frequencies, white noise machines are excellent at blocking out other types of sound. I bought one and found it worked for a while, but the sound of the machine ultimately became just as annoying as the initial noise!
You can play the white noise machine anywhere in your home when you are looking for peace and quiet. It is normally used in the bedroom, though and is even thought to improve the quality of sleep even in homes where excessive noise is not an issue.
3. Practice Relaxation
There are lots of options, so try one that works for you. Possibilities include yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and tai chi. Even if your home isn’t the most peaceful place, there will be plenty of classes available in your local area. You might need to try several different classes and methods of relaxation before you find the one that works best for you.
4. Other things you can try:
Move your bookcases to the exterior wall of your apartment and fill them with your favorite books. …
Invest in some heavy curtains. …
Hang tapestry-style artwork on your walls to absorb the sound.
5. Leave
It’s obvious but get out of the house for a while when possible. If you know that Saturdays are particularly noisy, try and make plans to be away for some of the day. Go for a soothing walk-in nature, go for a coffee and gossip with a friend, or take up a new activity. Of course, you shouldn’t be forced to leave your home, but this is about making the best decisions for your mental health while the noise problem is being resolved.
You could even go away for a few days. You and your partner could go for a romantic getaway, you could have a girls/boys’ weekend, or you could visit a family member. If the noise is really driving you mad, you could look for bargains online and occasionally stay in a hotel for a night.
Do not ignore the problem. It won’t just go away!
In such situations, people may feel trapped with no escape, it makes them feel disoriented, as though they can hear every noise or conversation in a room. The effect is similar to being in an echo chamber.
Neurological conditions such as migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome and posttraumatic stress disorder can also be associated with increased sensitivity to noise. For all those reasons, it is crucial, if you are living with an out-of-control noise situation, that you address it as soon as possible!
This is why I like to live outside the town limits where I can have more space – more of a buffer between my home and the source of the annoying noises.
That makes good sense, Anneli. I do live away from the center of town, but still within town limits, and close to a large hotel. The noise that bothers me is mechanical, emanating from a huge fan at the hotel, positioned close to my window. I am now in communication with the owners, trying to find a solution. Hope it works!
Oh Diane, irritating mechanical noises are among the most annoying issues we can face. I applaud you for not only decerning how best to address this but taking the time to share your excellent thoughts.
I wrote a very polite email to the owners a few days ago, but I haven’t had an acknowledgement that they have received the email, or a response. Ill wait another day or so, and send them another email. I have done some research, but haven’t found a phone number yet. I have a feeling this will take some time!
My daughter is autistic, and she has to spend some quality time everyday, listening to her music with her fancy headphones! She is very sensitive to noise and learning to advocate for herself. She carries ear plugs in her purse, because she likes how discrete they are.
It’s good that she is learning to stand up for herself. Since most people are noise insensitive in this very noisy world, she might need to address this issue again and again. I wish her all the best in her search for a solution.
Comments are closed.